MAX Kicks Off 30th Anniversary Tour in Tokyo with a Bang

Still Got It: MAX Dazzles Tokyo Crowd with New Tunes, Non-Stop Dance and Pure Nostalgia (Oricon)

The legendary dance-pop queens of MAX stormed the stage in Tokyo on 18 May, marking the kickoff of their milestone “MAX 30th LIVE CONTACT 2025 ~Ways to Go~” anniversary tour. Performing at the Hitomi Memorial Hall inside Showa Women’s University, the original four members – NANA, MINA, LINA, and REINA – brought the house down in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,800 buzzing fans.

And let’s just say – these ladies haven’t missed a beat.

The show cracked open with high-energy banger BOOM BOOM BOMB-BA-YEA, launching into a non-stop rollercoaster of 25 tracks that zipped between throwback classics and fresh material. Fans were treated to the likes of their all-time smash TORA TORA TORA, plus the surprise debut of their brand-new tune ALDEBARAN – a lush, emotional number that felt like a heartfelt thank-you letter to fans who’ve stuck with them across three decades.

Decked out in Barbie-like glam outfits for the sultry Midnight Lover, MAX proved they’re not just relying on nostalgia – they’re still pushing their performance game hard. Fierce choreography? Check. Flawless formations? Check. Breath control like pros? You bet. Even with the passage of time, their synchronised dance moves and stamina were nothing short of savage.

During the first MC break, MINA called out to any first-timers in the audience, asking them to “share the memories of your 30 years with us,” while REINA fired up the crowd saying, “We’ve been rehearsing like mad for today – now let’s go all out till the end!” LINA warned cheekily, “No breaks today, alright? We came ready for this!” and NANA wrapped it all up with a heartfelt “We’re pouring 30 years of gratitude into every performance – enjoy it!”

And just when fans thought the night couldn’t get any more iconic… it did.

For the first time since their 1996 debut concert, MAX brought back the legendary “signed ball toss,” chucking autographed balls into the crowd during the encore performance of TORA TORA TORA. Cue the wild cheers and scramble.

Then came the icing on the cake – literally. DA PUMP’s ISSA and KIMI, along with Gori from Garage Sale, popped up unannounced with a giant celebration cake, turning the stage into a full-on birthday bash. “As long as you’re all here, we’ll always be MAX,” said an emotional NANA, capping the night with a line that had the crowd in bits.

The “LIVE CONTACT” series has been running strong since 1999, and this 30th anniversary edition isn’t just a trip down memory lane – it’s a signpost pointing to the group’s next chapter. With dates lined up in Osaka (23 May), Kochi (22 June), and Okinawa (13 October), MAX are showing no signs of slowing down.

If this Tokyo gig was anything to go by, the rest of the tour is going to be pure fire.